Referee Pages

New Referee Frequently Asked Questions

We're often asked about what's involved in becoming a referee in Beverly Hills AYSO. Here are some answers
to the most frequently asked questions:

I don't know anything about soccer, youth sports or refereeing. How can I be a referee?

If you love kids, have a sense of humor, think being a positive role model is important and can walk around the block
without being winded, you have what it takes. Many of our referee volunteers report that once they do their
first game (always with the help of an experienced referee mentor), they realize that it's fun.

We’ll help you learn what you need to know about soccer and youth sports. Soccer is a simple game.
Refereeing is mostly common sense.

We providing training, equipment and mentoring every step of the way. Beverly Hills AYSO is fortunate to have
some of the best referees and referee instructors in the country --- several of them with decades of experience.
Our goal is to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.

What's the time commitment?

There's no minimum time commitment. Before you can referee, you do need to successfully complete the AYSO
Regional Referee and Referee Safe Haven courses. This one time certification requirement takes about 6 hours
in Beverly Hills.

Once you are certified, you can volunteer for as many games as you wish. Our referee schedulers will assign
you as a center referee or assistant referee depending on your preferences. Many of our volunteers do a game or
two per week. Games on Beverly Hills' fields generally begin as early at 8a and end around 5p both Saturday and Sunday.
Depending on the age group, games last between 50 minutes and 1 hour and 45 minutes.

If you are volunteering on behalf of your child's team in order to earn points for the
Volunteer Point Program, you will be able to meet your maximum point total
by attending the Regional Referee clinic and refereeing 7 games as an assistant referee --- a total time
commitment of about 15 hours for the season.

What's this Volunteer Point Program I keep hearing about?

Beginning with the 2004-2005 season, we've implemented a program to help recruit more volunteer referees.
You can read all about this program here.

I'm not really in shape. Can I still referee?

If you can walk around a city block without becoming winded, you can be an assistant referee in a U10 game.

What's the minimum age to be a referee?

Based on AYSO National Regulations, we certify Regional Referees beginning at
age 12. Usually, we require that players be at least as old as the age division they referee. We especially
welcome existing players who want to referee. Many of our youth referees earn school community service credits
for their time spent refereeing. For more information on becoming a youth referee, please contact our
Youth Referee Coordinator.

You guys always complain about not having enough volunteer referees. Why don't you just pay them?

By it's national charter, AYSO is a completely volunteer organization. Coaches, referees and administrators are
all volunteers. This is one of the characteristics that makes AYSO unique.

I have a child playing. Will you schedule around her games?

Yes. Many of our referee volunteers officiate at the game just before or just after the game their children play.
Our referee schedulers will make sure you get to see your child play.

While we make exceptions in U8 (because there are no standings), we don't allow volunteers to be center referees in
their own children's games. When we're not in the play-offs, we do allow volunteers to be assistant referees in their
own children's games, although we try to fill games with neutral officials first.

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